Chicagoans can enjoy fantastic waterfront walking and biking on our city's 18.5-mile path along the shores of Lake Michigan, but have you ever wondered what it would be like if you didn't stop and just kept going? Writer Loreen Niewenhuis from Battle Creek, Mich., is finding out on a 1,000-mile walk around the perimeter of Lake Michigan, which she plans to write a book about. She stepped off from Navy Pier on March 16 and is walking counter-clockwise around the lake. The most recent leg of her trip got her as far as Manitowoc, Wis. You can read about her journey on her blog at http://laketrek.blogspot.com. Loreen is inviting people to join her on the Chicago lakefront on September 26, 2009, for the last 10 miles of her trek -- see the bottom of this post for details.

Why did you decide to do a 1,000-mile walk around Lake Michigan?

Come enjoy the charm, beauty and architectural character of the near western suburbs of Chicago. The Oak Park Cycle Club and the Oak Park Area Convention & Visitors Bureau are pleased to announce that Wright Ride 2009 will take place on Sunday, August 16, 2009.

Why Wright?
The Wright Ride is named for one of Oak Park's most famous citizens, Frank Lloyd Wright, who spent the first 20 years of his 70 year career here, building numerous homes that still stand in the community, including his own. He lived and worked in the area between 1889 and 1909. His earliest work can be found here, including the Winslow House in neighboring River Forest. Oak Park boasts many examples of the very first Prairie Style houses, as well as Wright's world-renowned Unity Temple, which was built between 1905-1908.

The Metropolitan Planning Council has been on the hunt this summer for the best public place in Chicagoland. They've compiled over 50 photos and videos of people’s favorite public places and now they want you to vote for the best at http://www.placemakingchicago.com/places (deadline for voting is Sept. 14).

They've also created a handy Google Map to make it easier for you to explore interesting places to visit in the region, many of which are accessible by foot, bike or transit. Google offers directions by public transit for CTA and Metra to help you find your way.

Do you dream of a future where bikes outnumber cars on Chicago streets and drive-throughs are displaced by new train stations? Well the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) needs the public's help to create Chicago's 2040 regional plan, and they want to know about your vision for the future. Be sure to have your say in the direction of our region! You have through early September to weigh in using the Invent the Future web tools at www.goto2040.org. The site also has details about other opportunities to participate through community meetings and kiosks.

I've invented my own 2040 scenario. You should too, and vote for your favorite of the three scenarios CMAP has presented.

The Bicycle Film Festival will be in Chicago starting Wednesday August 12-16, 2009. The Bicycle Film Festival is a celebration of bicycles through film, art and music.

At a recent public meeting, the City presented a proposal to tear down the elevated-freeway-esque Western Ave. viaduct (CDOT website). The viaduct is nearing the end of its useful life (it's old and falling apart) and the City needs to decide what to do with it. The presentation posted on the CDOT website shows two options currently under consideration for the viaduct: replacing it with a new viaduct or with a normal at-grade city street that would be friendlier to pedestrians, bicyclists, and storefront businesses.

The Bicycle Film Festival is a celebration of bicycles through film, art and music. It starts next week on Wednesday August 12th-16th at Columbia College. For more information, schedule, and tickets go to: http://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/?p=chicago

The City is apparently mulling over the idea of tearing down the elevated-freeway-esque Western Ave. viaduct (Tribune story). There's a public meeting about this tonight. If you can make it to the meeting, please let us know what happened by posting in the comments section or posting your own blog entry about it for those of us who can't attend.

WESTERN AVENUE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

The Chicago Department of Transportation will be hosting a Public Meeting to introduce the Western Avenue Viaduct Study and encourage input from the community during the initial study phase. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 7:00pm at the DeVry University Chicago Campus (3300 N. Campbell Avenue, Room 200).

www.flores1stward.com

See what it's like when streets are filled with people and the street becomes your playground. From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 1, the Active Transportation Alliance's Open Streets event will give friends and families the chance to enjoy the streets the way they want: biking, dancing, playing, walking and more! The free event combines last year's two Sunday Parkways events into one huge eight-mile event spanning from Logan Square to Little Village, passing through Humboldt Park, North Lawndale and Garfield Park. There is no event registration. Participants can join in at any point along the route and step off the route at any of the parks or community-run activities. Plan a picnic or brunch at your favorite spot along the route and encourage your friends to turn out to join you!

More info.: http://www.activetrans.org/openstreets

Ride the City helps you find the safest bike routes possible in New York, Chicago, or Austin. Check it out: http://www.ridethecity.com/chicago